Not only is the Matthew Shepard Act working its way though congress but now New Hampshire is pushing a gay marriage bill though the states governance. The Gay Marriage Bill passed the House but looked like it would be defeated in the Senate; the Bill was reworked and passed by the Senate. The Bill(s) have to be reviewed and reworked because two different bills were passed by the two branches of the New Hampshire’s government before Gov. John Lynch can sign it.

I will be interested to see how the Bill works if passed because the reworking of the Bill included language that allows clergy to decline marrying gay couples. I think that it is a provacative addition to the Bill. The change also allows couples to choose between the words “bride”, “groom”, or spouse on the marriage liscens.

New Hampshire already has civil unions and has become another State to f ight for marriage language even though civil unions are already granted. On one final note, from the article, it sounds as if Maine might be the next State to grant gay marriage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is some pretty exciting news!!!!!!!

What will be nice is that if the East Coast keeps this precedence up it will be a great help to Califonria’s Supreme Court when it reviews Prop 8.

I am really excited to see the gay marriage movement to be picking up steam. I didn’t realize how quickly it would pick up and it’s great!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello all after some light posting for the past two weeks I thought I would do a longer post…one with some meat to it 😉

Frank and I are doing well.We are still going on out dates together and having our naked parties.It is nice change compared to being single.I went out with him last weekend and met several of his friends…it was nice and his friends were really kind.I think they knew we were seeing each other.It makes things a little awkward because his friends are his peers and he is a respectable person and I don’t want our age difference to deter from that and him being a professional.But overall the dinner with his friends was good…then came the big night.He had a big solo this past Friday and I went to the concert….Here I was under the impression I would meet a ton of his peers…well I met a few but it wasn’t as big of a deal as I had once made it out to be (go figure).It was a good concert and I appreciated being there and that Frank wanted me to come.Things have been good with Frank and we, I feel are just enjoying, each other’s company.I plan on seeing him tonight and I hope on Wednesday after that I will be out of town for Easter L

This weekend I attempted my first try at spaghetti sauce.Not just any sauce but my Mother’s pasta sauce.After a visit to the grocery story to get all the accoutrements I dutifully diced, pressed, and chopped all the ingredients for the sauce.There I was in my tiny kitchen dumping cans of tomatoes, diced onions, a variety of broths etc into a big pot…I looked like an Italian Grandma…the pot simmering and boiling and I’m just standing there stirring.I did badger my mother out of her mind.She’s done the sauce for so long she knows it by hear a la no exact recipe for Sammy to follow.Our poor phone bill!Then there was this moment where I was standing in front of a warming pot with a concoction of lord knows what and all I could think is, “Please god let this pot of stuff magically become my Mother’s sauce.”Well in the end I managed to put together my Mother’s sauce!!!I was pleased with the results.The one other thing that my Mother failed to mention and I forgot to ask about is the recipe that she gave me makes enough sauce to feed a family of four and then some.Needless to say my freezer is full of pasta sauce.I also made a roast this weekend and did a ton of laundry…what I was a domesticated god this weekend 😉

So let’s talk politics!I last posted on Iowa which is AWESOME!But the gays have been making waves elsewhere too.Let’s start with the mess of a state known as North Dakota.A few months ago I did a little post regarding North Dakota passing an abortion ban protecting the rights of unborn children.It makes it illegal for women to get an abortion…crazy right?If that wasn’t crazy enough North Dakota decided to notch it up just a little more in the “making unsound and unjustified decisions” department.A bill meant to protect gay men and women died in the North Dakota House.It’s funny because the Reps for North Dakota will protect unborn children but heaven forbid they protect the rights of people who live and pay taxes in North Dakota who just happen to be gay.Rep. Robin Weisz said the reason he didn’t support the bill was because being homosexual isn’t something you are born with it a lifestyle or a behavior.

What an IDIOT!I mean really, you will protect something that isn’t viable outside of a woman’s womb but you won’t protect an adult.It is absurd and backwards reasoning.I guess North Dakota Reps. answered the question about protecting the rights of a child if he or she grew up to be gay….they wouldn’t.

Also, any person in the North Dakota House (in fact make that any person that uses this argument) that argued the usage of transgendered or transsexual language in the bill would allow sexual predators access to children deserves to be sterilized to save the rest of humanity from their stupidity.I hardly think the hundreds of thousands of educated people who argue for transgendered/transsexual language are arguing for laws that would allow for sexual predators to go after children.

I just can’t wrap my mind around the break in reasoning these people have.They argue that a child in the womb is just as much as a person who pays taxes so they create laws to protect this child in the womb yet when men and women argue to be protected from hate crimes do not get the protection they need….they don’t get the protection they need because people believe that being gay is a behavior or a lifestyle.While it isn’t a behavior or a lifestyle (we are born this way), don’t people deserve to be protected even if there was a semblance of a chance that it is a “lifestyle” (which, like I’ve said, it isn’t).I suspect they nuts that are Reps. in the House have some religious tendencies that misconstrue the facts about gay people.

Now we move to Vermont.Vermont was giving me a lot of hope when I read this article a few weeks ago.I’m pleased to see Vermont, without the courts forcing them to do it, looks to pass same-sex marriage in the State.AWESOME…then Vermont Gov. James Douglas (yes I’ll post a picture)sends us back to the stone age saying he’d veto the bill because he thinks the civil union bill is good enough.Listen James one, that is the most absurd thing you could have ever said, secondly, America tried something like this a while back…it was called…hhhmmm let me think….Separate but Equal and guess what it didn’t work then and it sure as hell isn’t going to work now.So after hearing this news I was glum.The New England states have been so good about leading the fight in gay rights that I never thought we would have such a problem.Unfortunately, there are not enough votes to override the governor’s veto….even though both the Vermont House and Senate both passed the same-sex marriage measure.You know what it is Douglas is a pussy (excuse the language) that doesn’t have the balls to stand up for what is right.One person, one man, is stopping a right for thousands of people because he feels that the civil-union system is good enough.Just because something is good enough doesn’t mean it is right, or done, or fully equal.Then one of the worst parts was the fact that he quoted Obama’s stance as a reason for not allowing same sex message.

“”But, like President Obama and other leaders on both sides of the aisle, I believe that marriage should remain between a man and woman.”” (I got this quote from the CNN article linked above)

This is exactly what I feared and blogged about during the Presidential elections.What our leaders say and there stances on things, like gay marriage, matter because other elected officials and citizens look to them for guidance in these types of issues.Go figure Obama would stand there and say he feels marriage is between a man and a woman and the Gov. of Vermont is taking the same stance and quoting Obama and others as evidence in his flimsy argument.It’s disheartening and upsetting.

Well that’s about it for now…I’ve rambled on and I’m sure have had enough of your gay news for the day.I hope to get another post up before I leave town this weekend.Have a lovely day bitches!

So today I fully intended a happy fun Christmassy like post then I made the mistake of surfing over to CNN.I just read the article regarding Obama’s choice for the inaugural invocation.He has chosen Rick Warren.Please read the article, the link is below:

God damn it.I am thoroughly offended by this!It’s a slap in the face really.So Linda Douglass is quoted in the article saying, “”“The president-elect certainly disagrees with him on [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] issues,” Douglass said. “But it has always been his goal to find common ground with people with whom you may disagree on some issues.”” Obviously, he doesn’t disagree with him enough to find his opposition to gay marriage offensive.It very well may be true, regarding finding common ground with people who disagree on some issues but I’m not some issue nor are my rights.

What people fail to recognize is that my rights are not a bargaining chip.It isn’t common ground that should be disagreed on, Obama should be championing for our rights.I’ve come terms with the concept that gay rights are not number one on the agenda (and I hate to admit it because in my mind gay rights should be a high priority unfortunately it’s not shaping up to be that way).Fine, let’s fix the economy, let’s get out of this war, but remember there were a ton of gay men and women who voted to put Obama into office then he goes off and makes this kind of choice for invocation.It’s like a big F*** You!

I love the fact that Linda Douglass defends the choice to saying, ““This is going to be the most inclusive, open, accessible inauguration in American history.””Please, really?Do you really believe that, as a gay man, I want to go to the inauguration of our President who chose a man, who does not support gay marriage or gay rights, to do the invocation.Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?It shows a disconnect with the gay community.

What people don’t understand is the symbolism that his choice holds.It is symbolic acquiescence to the religious right.Remember when I posted several months ago and said that I wanted someone in office that would champion rights 100%, this choice shows me Obama’s not the person for it.I can’t have someone with a luke warm attitude towards my rights in office, and this just shows me that my rights are part of a political agenda.Instead of standing up for us gays (who many touted with rainbow colored pins with his logo) he chose to try and united political parties, which in my mind was a political move (plain and simple as that).If Obama can’t see what it means to have this man swear him into office then my biggest fears are being recognized.

It just pisses me off to think that Obama chose a man who not only opens supports Prop. 8 but also champions pro-life (for all you ladies out there that are pro choice).

I decided to take a little spin around Obama’s website and found the following quote from Obama,

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”

“Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us…” well I feel exploited.

What upsets me is that fact that all my friends were all over Obama.He had a heavy college aged constituency and I happen to hang out with a lot of college aged people.I hate the fact that they were upset over the fact that I liked Clinton.They were stunned that I didn’t jump onto the Obama bandwagon.But I don’t think they fully understand what its like to compromise your rights for a politician or a political agenda.I hate the fact that I had a friend tell me Obama was the best that I had at the moment and that I had to look at the greater good for the U.S.(She meant this in a good way meaning one more advocate in office is better than no advocate at all…ahem McCain/Palin).Greater good my ass…you see where the greater good is getting me right now.I’m upset that the gay community was so quick to support Obama.He was championed so quickly by our community to deliver on gay rights and civil unions (which should be marriages) that now instead of delivering he is more apt. to unite political parties.It isn’t the fact that the LGBT community supported him that upsets me, it’s the possibility that we could be disappointed by him.I view my rights as not a political stepping stone.So when he says he wants to deliver on “equality by treating all citizens with dignity and respect” perhaps he shouldn’t have picked Rick Warren to do the invocation.

I’d like to post script this by saying I can’t fault the gay community for supporting Obama.It is exciting to think that we might have someone in office that is a champion of gay rights (even though gay rights include marriage and not civil unions).What I think, though, is that we have to ask a lot of our political people we chose to support.We can’t just support someone when they say they support gay rights, we need to expect them to follow though.The reason for this is so that those newspapers, gay community supporters, etc. that endorse, endorse, endorse aren’t shocked when something like this happens.

I’d like to close with this quote from Andrew Sullivan in the article, ““[It’s] shrewd politics, but if anyone is under any illusion that Obama is interested in advancing gay equality, they should probably sober up now.””It’s a scary quote and I hope he’s wrong, but I have to question is this the start of something, beginning with Rick Warren, that will only serve to disappoint the gay community later down the line?

It pains me to put this link up…literally. I hate to think all the press this hate monger is going to get. In this recently posted article of his he went as far as to equate our struggle (regarding Prop 8, gay marriage, and other rights) with the extremists that caused the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Go ahead read it…I’ll wait.

Now that you’ve had that chance to digest his horrible and awful words lets take a moment and discuss.

First, mr. boone, I’m gay and I am in no way shape or form like the individuals who have caused the terror in Mumbai. If you think that me being a political activist equates me to someone who will kill people then you are sadly mistaken, small minded, and unable to comprehend our community.

Secondly, for you to write such awful things about our community and our people then at the bottom of the page tout about your “Broadway headlining,” I have a newsflash for you. You have performed with tons of gay men and women and it’s a shame that you would say such hateful things about actors and actresses that have aided your career.

Thirdly, let’s take a moment and look at a few things you’ve said shall we…

“Every homosexual citizen has the same, identical rights as any other American.” If every homosexual citizen has the same rights as any other American then why is it that we have to fight for regulations to protect us from jobs that will fire us because we are gay…or protect us from those people who will kill us leaving a gay bar? If we have the same right how is it fair that my married parents can be on each other’s health benefits despite the city in which they live where as I couldn’t have my partner on my benefits nor would he be covered depending on the state we live in?

“Because this elemental building block of society has been so defined and respected throughout history, elected representatives in our self-government have granted certain supports and tax relief and privileges to marriages and families. Again, these privileges did not originate with some benevolent higher authority – they originated with the people, through the democratic process.

That’s how a free republic works. Our people consecrated our Constitution and determined to live within its provisions, voluntarily. It was determined that the will of the voting majority would rule, though it was subject to change if the majority will changed.” What you fail to realize mr. boone is that a voting majority does not have the right to take away others rights.That’s not the way it works.If we were voting on tax raises or voting to create a new road system a majority vote would be acceptable but the minute you try and justify that amajority can take away rights then the democratic process has been overstepped.Also, just because you may be in a majority that doesn’t necessarily mean that the “said” majority is right.

“No “rights” were ever granted to citizens on the basis of their sexual habits or lifestyle.There simply are no such “rights.”Perhaps mr. boone needs to study up on his Constitutional Law.Its a little Supreme Court called Griswold vs. CT.For those of you who don’t know what this case involved, mr. boone, it involved the use of contraceptives in the state of CT.Women at one time were not allowed to use contraceptives in CT.This case argued that a woman’s body is her body and can do with it what she wants…in terms of contraceptives.The law was over turned allowing for the use of birth control.It was a crash course in what the meaning of “right to privacy.” A right provided for by the Constitution.In other words a woman has the RIGHT to take birth control because her body is private and the State cannot dictate what she can and can’t do regarding birth control.Might I add that this “privacy” which a woman has was granted on the basis of some women’s sexual habits and or lifestyles. This was just a quick glaze over the case it really is a great case and merits further investigation and trust me there are many more cases regarding rights then you realize.

“Slavery was abolished, blacks and women obtained the rights to vote, and these true rights were not obtained by threats and violent demonstrations and civil disruption (though these things did occur, of course), but by due process, congressional deliberations and appropriate ratification. This was democracy in action, not mob rule. As noted journalist Thomas Sowell has said, there never was “a right to win.” In America, at least the America we’ve known till now, rights are earned and won in a deliberative, legal way – at the polls.”Uuummm correct me if I am wrong but wasn’t one of Thoreau’s and Martin Luther Kings’ tenants Civil Disobedience if a law was not fair.I think I remember something from my Civil Rights class I took in college…that we are obligated as good citizens to demonstrate against rules that are unjust and unfair.At the moment I don’t think we’ve had any giant violent gay demonstrations?And if we want to nitpick even more due process wasn’t necessarily reached in your “congressional deliberations and appropriate ratification” when Eisenhower had to call in the Army to desegregate Little Rock Central High School for the Little Rock 9 or when a white mob tormented the people who sat at Woolworths.

Finally, “There never were any “rights” granted or designated to those who dissented with the will of the majority, other than the same rights all citizens have to work through the democratic process to accomplish their purposes.”I think if we operated under this assumption we could very well be British citizens still.I do believe that our 13 colonies were a minority in regards to England.I believe we dissented with the will of the majority and fought a war for what we believed were our rights as a new nation…I believe we dissented with the majority when England tried to impose a tax on our tea….a la the Boston Tea Party.

The point is mr. boone while you try to paint us as crazy, unjust people, our history is littered with people who have been considered radical but in actuality were quite sane fighting for the rights they know they deserved.We are no different.And while you can compare me to a “sexual jihadist” lets not forget to turn that powerful ability to judge on yourself.You’re right hate is hate and those people who perpetuate it by taking away the rights of others and those people who take the time to fan the flames, mr. boone, are just as guilty of hate as well.

P.S. Your argument lacks consistency and validity.It falls apart with every flimsy argument you make.I’m not quite sure what is irresponsible or hedonistic of gay men and women fighting for the right to marry one another.In fact fighting for the right seems to be the exact opposite of hedonism and irresponsibility.

For those of you who voted for Prop 8 (or any other Prop defining marriage as being between a man and woman) in an effort to support a “traditional marriage” and/or preserve “family values” lets take a moment and look at some things.

While you denied me my right to marry, you allow those heterosexual couples that sexually, mentally, and verbally abuse each other the right to marry.Is that your idea of a traditional marriage or good values or a good environment to raise a child?

While you denied me my right to marry, you allow those men and women with drug problems to marry and raise a family.Is that your idea of family values?

While you denied me my right to marry, you allowed children to languish in a state system because you refuse to allow unmarried people to adopt.Is that your idea of a good personal moral compass?

While you voted yes for Prop 8 you easily took rights away from me and other gay couples.Tell me was it easy for you to check yes?Do you sleep easily at night knowing you marginalize people?I’m guessing you probably do.

Well here is what I think…Any woman that voted for Prop 8 or any definition of marriage being between a man and a woman should have her right to vote taken away from her.It seems only fair considering we celebrated the 88th anniversary of your right to vote.You know the saying “an eye for any eye”…well now it should be a right for a right.

For any man that voted for Prop 8 or any definition of marriage being between a man and a woman you are small minded.Your inability to see past us being gay to realize that we are people just the same as you and deserve the same rights exemplifies just how narrow minded you are.You should have your right to freedom of speech taken away because what you have to say is filled with lies and bigotry.You take away one of my rights I should be allowed to take away one of your rights.

For any mormon that voted for Prop 8 or any definition of marriage being between a man and a woman you pouring 20 million into supporting Prop 8 shows me that you are scared worthless people.Your right to practice your religion freely should be taken away and we should get to persecute you.

For any Senator, State Representative or person holding public office if you state that you want to protect the rights of the gay community but believe marriage is between a man and a woman you make it morally acceptable for people to marginalize us.You lack the ability to stand up for those of us that have been marginalized and we deserve a strong voice in office that will stand up and fight for us and not just for another term in office.

For the members of the gay community that read this…now is the time to be angry.It is time we define ourselves differently.No longer should we be a gay community, we are a community committed to gay rights.We are committed to rights that we deserve and should be willing to have our voices heard for.Now is the time to picket the churches that we go to that depend on our patronage to continue.We shouldn’t give our money to them the same way they won’t give us the right to marry.Now is the time to have open discourse and discussion with those people who don’t believe we should marry and educate them properly.We need to show them that we are not a group of people who deserve to be marginalized.It is time for us to be angry and upset and it is time for us to be heard.

So first off I would like to say that I’ve officially reached 26 today the 5th of November!Yes the most important time in American politics lands right on the eve, or on the day of my birthday.But lets be serious, the American people aren’t really celebrating the election of a new leader for our nation…they are celebrating my…ahem…birth.To continue celebrating my birth…here is a gratuitous man picture…enjoy…it is my gift to you 😉

Now let’s get down to brass tacks my friends.I began my blog several months ago to try and figure out what I lacked and needed to do with my life.While I look back at my posts and recount the many fun times I’ve had I’ve also noticed that I am not really where I wanted to be by the time I turned 26.I thought at this point in my life after being partially out of the closet I’d have significant other.I don’t have a significant other, but I do have someone I full around with pretty consistently…even if he is much older than me.I thought I’d have a job in my field, I don’t, but Does it count if I’ve applied???These two notions make me kind of anxious considering I am closing in on 30.It isn’t that I’m getting older it’s just that I’m not where I thought I’d be in life by 26.I’m at a state of stasis right now…consistent yet happy, but I’m going to need some changes real soon.Okay so enough of this feelings conversation…I hope you all go out and have some good old booze gay man fun to celebrate my introduction to the world!Cheers for now.

So originally when I finished this blog the 2008 election wasn’t over now that it’s over there are a few things I would like to get off my chest.First and for most…shame on you Florida, California, Arizona, and Arkansas…you’ve taken away peoples rights.On what basis did you take these rights away, fear and your religion????This breaks my heart to know that there are people out there that feel the need to marginalize others.That is what they did plain and simple.Secondly, I just want to say that for those of you gay men and women who want to adopt, don’t do it.I hate to say it and it isn’t pretty to say but if people want to deny marriage then why should we help those children that languish in a state system.I’ve talked about this before and I genuinely hate to know that children will suffer from this but why should we gays sink money into state systems that feel the need to deny us our right to marry.I say let the systems fill with children until states realize that these kids could have wonderful loving homes but because of their moral issues they won’t get a home.

I know it crass, mean, and down right deplorable of me to say but why is it that we have to take the moral high road.You know what I’m saying, that voice in your head, your conscious that goes, “you know even though people have taken your right to marry away we should still adopt because there are children that need us…it’s for them.”Screw that I’m over being Mr. Nice Gay.I’m sick and tired about people being so scared of gay marriage.Is it really that crazy or scary that two men and two women love each other and want the sanctity of a marriage to prove their love and devotion to each other?

The other thing that I’m kinda over is people calling us progressive as a nation.Yes we are progressive but I believe we are selectively progressive.Don’t get me wrong I’m enthralled at having Obama as my President.But if we were progressive don’t you think that gay rights would have won.People “selected” not to progress gay rights.We only choose to be progressive when we want to or when the time is right.We tout being progressive but I just think we pick and choose our areas of progression based on how we feel at that time.I mean we chose to progress in some areas of animal rights and abortion.

On a final note I just want to say I hope Obama and Biden stay true to their word protecting what gay rights we have.I have said from the beginning that I was a Clinton supporter, but when she did not get the nod for the presidential position I was left with Obama and McCain…obviously I would not vote for McCain so that left Obama.The hardest thing for me to swallow about Obama was that both he and Biden stood up and said they will protect gay rights but believed that marriage was between a man and a woman.First, I believe marriage is a right that should be given to me…and currently the states show that they don’t believe in that right, secondly, people look to Obama and Biden as not only leaders of our nation but as moral leaders too.When these two men stood up at the debates and said they believed that marriage was between a man and a woman they told people that is okay to give certain rights to gays.They made it okay, they made it comfortable, acceptable, for people to give certain rights to the gays while still holding them an arms length away from total equality.Because of this I came down with the choice of either not voting for Obama or compromising the feelings I have about equality for gays for the greater good.That’s not an easy decision to be asked or to be made.What makes the decision even worse is that Obama is in office and that is great but will he and Biden do anything to help the gays in the state that just had their rights to adoption and marriage taken away from them, or will they just support the rights for gays to visit their loved ones in hospitals etc?I think it is an important question we have to ask ourselves and our new President and our new Vice President.Like I said I’m not bashing Obama and Biden.I am just a concerned, marginalized, second class citizen who has questions and is hoping for change.

Okay now I’m over my political rant.This should be a happy day so as a gift to me go out and get drunk and have some crazy gay fun times with the people you care about the most.

P.S. Congrats to Obama and Biden!Let hear it for change!

P.P.S. I think it’s kind cool that I get to share my birthday with a significan piece of American history!!!!!

When it rains it pours!!!! You thought you would only get one post today after a week of no posting and here you are getting two.

This is a special post because I’ve blogged on several occasions about the fight for gay marriage in Connecticut.Well the government has finally run it’s course and Connecticut allows for GAY MARRIAGE!!!!!!!!!!!

What is so great about this ruling is that Connecticut had previously ruled for civil unions but the plaintiffs in that case felt that civil unions still “created an unequal status for gay men and lesbians and did not confer upon them the same rights and protections as marriage.”So they went to the court looking for gay marriage.

What this means is that gay men and women are allowed to marry in Connecticut.No civil unions, no civil contracts, no domestic contracts, gay men and women are on equal ground with heterosexual couples.

This is amazing.It blows me away at the fact that gay marriage was legitimized like this.I think this only tells us not to settle.

I believe that Justice Richard N. Palmer summed it up beautifully

“that the court found that the “segregation of heterosexual and homosexual couples into separate institutions constitutes a cognizable harm,” in light of “the history of pernicious discrimination faced by gay men and lesbians, and because the institution of marriage carries with it a status and significance that the newly created classification of civil unions does not embody.”

Civil unions create a classification system.That classification system is strictly used for gay men and women…Plain and simple.Well not any more!!!!!!

FOR THOSE OF YOU IN CONNECTICUT CONGRATS ON YOUR GAY MARRIAGE!!!!!!!!!!! YOU DID IT!!!!!!!TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS GREAT HAPPENING THANK YOU FOR THE HOPE.

For the full article see the below link:(also all my quotes came from the article)